Egg painter



EGG PAINTER Filed Feb. 1954 Mary M. Jun'm'c IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent'Ofiice 2,727,325 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 EGG PAINTER Mary M. Jnrinic, Hazel Park, Mich., assignor of fifty per cent to John Jurinic, and twentyafive per cent toLeonard P. Berzonsky, Hazel Park, Mich.

Application February 9, 1954, Serial No. 409,073 2 Claims. (Cl. 41-4) The present invention relates to a device for retaining fragile articles while decorating the same.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for supporting articles such as eggs or the like Without breakage while decorating the same, which device permits rotation of the article to various positions during the decoration thereof.

A very important object of the invention is in the provision of a novel clamping jaw construction for retaining fragile articles whereby the opposing faces of the jaws are resiliently deformable to conform to the shape of the article being retained between the jaws and at the same time cushion the article against breakage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fragile article decorating device including means for supporting a brush or the like during the decoration of the article whereby the brush may be held in position while the article is being rotated to provide a line around the article.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective means for rotating the article when mounted on the device.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the fragile article supporting and decorating device constituting the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a top view of the device;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of one of the details of the device taken substantially along the plane of section line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is cross sectional view of a second detail of the device taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 of Figure 2.

Primarily, the device constituting the present invention is designed for the painting of eggs and the like; however, as the description proceeds, it will be obvious that the utility of the device is not so limited and that the device will be equally applicable in the decoration of many fragile articles.

In the drawings, the device is designated generally by the numeral 10. Basically the device comprises a supporting frame 12 supporting an article clamping structure 14.

The supporting frame 12 comprises an elongated rectangular base 16 having flanges 18 and 20 projecting upwardly from the opposite ends thereof. These flanges are of equal length and size, being of less width than the width of the flat base 16 so that the forward portion of the flat base is provided free of any end obstructions. Extending longitudinally along the forward portion of the base and preferably, although not necessarily, projecting beyond the ends of the base is a brush-holding trough for holding brushes to be utilized in the decoration of an article supported on the device.

Adjacent their upper ends, the flanges 18 and are provided with longitudinally aligned apertures 24' and 26 respectively. Rods 28 and 30 are journalled through the respective apertures 24 and 26 and project toward one another in overlying relation to the base 16. To the inner end of each of the shafts 28 and 30 respectively, the jaw member 32 is attached. As shown each jaw member 32 consists of an arcuate plate curved to a substantially semi-cylindrical shape with the concave faces of the jaws opening toward one another. Flex.- ible, resilient straps 34 are secured to each of the jaws 32 in any suitable manner and extend chordally across the concave surface of each jaw to thereby provide the jaws with resiliently deformable opposing faces. As shown in the drawings, the resilient straps 34 are in the form of rubber bands which are simply slipped overthe jaw members 32.

The outer end of the rod 30 has a disk 36 secured thereto which disk in turn has an eccentric handle member 38 secured thereto. Washer 40 interposed between the disk 36 and the outer face of the flange 20 prevents binding as the disk and consequently the shaft 30 are rotated by moving the handle 38. Due to the securement of one of the jaws 32 to the inner end of the shaft or rod 30, rotation of the disk 36 is transmitted to this jaw. Sleeve 42 around the shaft 30 abuts at its opposite ends against the jaw 32 and the inner face of the flange 20 to retain the shaft 30 against sliding movement.

Shaft 28 on the other hand, slides freely through the aperture 24 as well as being rotatable in this aperture. Washer 44 mounted on the inner face of the flange 18 serves to reenforce and guide the shaft in its longitudinal sliding movement. At its outer end, the shaft 28 is provided with a knob 46 having a hub or sleeve 48 through which the end of the shaft 28 projects. The end of the shaft 28 is swaged outwardly or otherwise formed at 50 to prevent the knob 46 from being pulled off this end of the shaft.

On the portion of the shaft 28 disposed in overlying relation to the base 16 a washer 52 is loosely disposed. Resilient coil spring 54 concentrically surrounds the portion of the shaft between the washer 52 and the jaw member 32. A second resilient coil spring 56 concentrically surrounds the portion of the shaft 28 between the washer 52 and the washer 44 on the flange 18. These springs 56 and 54 consequently react against the jaw 32 on the shaft 28 and the inner wall surface of the flange 18 to continually urge the shaft 28 into overlying relationship with the base 16 thereby moving the jaws 32 toward one another. Knob 46 serves as a stop to limit the inward movement of the shaft 23.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a steadying bar 58 is disposed above the forward portion of the base in laterally oifset relation to the rods or shafts 28 and 30. The end portions of the bar 58 are bent as at 69 at right angles to the length of the bar and attached integrally or otherwise to the flanges .18 and 20.

To mount an egg between the jaws, the shaft 28 is simply retracted to spread the jaws 32 from one another and the egg placed between the jaws and the knob released so that the surface of the egg contacts the resilient straps 34 and is retained in position between the jaws. Then, to decorate the egg, a brush may be rested on a steadying bar 58 and the handle 38 rotated thereby rotating the egg and providing a straight line around the egg. Of course, other decorations may be obviously applied with the brush while the egg is supported between the jaws. To release the egg, washer 52 may be simply moved toward washer 44 to compress the spring 56 and permit the egg to be removed from the jaws without breakage.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation'is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for retaining fragile articles while decorating the same including a supporting frame, article clamping means on said supporting frame, ,said clampingmeans including a pair of jaws relatively movable toward and-away from one another for clamping an article therebetween, resiliently deformable opposing faces thereon to conform to the shape of an article clamped therebetween, and means rotatably mounting said jaws on said supporting frame for movement toward and away from one another, said mounting means including a pair of rods'journaled on said supporting frame and being secured at their inner ends to said jaws, at least one of said rods being slidably mounted on said supporting frame, and resilient means urging said slidably mounted jaw in one direction, said supporting frame comprising a substantially flat base, flanges projecting upwardly from opposite ends of said base, said rods being journaled in said flanges in alignment with one another and overlying said base, and a steadying bar disposed above said base in laterally ofiset relation to said rods, said bar being attached to said flanges.

2. A device for retaining fragile articles while decorating the same including a supporting frame, article clamping means on said supporting frame, said clamping means including a pair" of jaws relatively movable toward and away from one another for clamping an article therebetween, resiliently deformable opposing faces thereon to conform to the shape of an article clamped therebetween, and means rotatably mounting said jaws on said supporting frame for movement toward and away from one another, said mounting means including a pair of rods journaled on said supporting frame and being secured at their inner ends to said jaws, at least one of said rods being slidably mounted on said supporting frame, and resilient means urging said slidably mounted jaw in one. direction, said supporting frame comprising a substantially flat base, flanges projecting upwardly from opposite ends of said base, said rods being journaled in said flanges in alignment with one another and overlying said base, and a steadying bar dis posed abovesaid base in laterally ofiset relation to said rods, said bar being attached to saidflanges, said jaws each comprising an elongated plate arcuated to provide 'a concave and a convex face, the concave faces of said jaws being opposed to one another, saidresilient faces comprising resilient bands embracing each of said jaws and having portions thereof extending chordally across said concave surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent a UNITED STATES PATENTS 110,630 Cauhape Ian. 3, 187.1 179,905 Fitts July 18, 1876 1,708,788

Pagan i-.. Apr.,8, 1929 

